Page 34 of Wicked and Ruthless

Mr. Benedict sighed. “What do you think this company’s greatest social media challenge is?”

She hadn’t expected to be put on the spot so soon, but she’d already given this question a lot of thought. “I see a couple of areas of opportunity for you. First, the average person doesn’t have a great opinion of land developers and real-estate moguls in general. I mean, everyone wants to be rich, but no one likes people who are rich.”

He barked out a laugh. “That’s true, but?—”

“Not your biggest problem, I know. The second issue is that you’ve made a career out of creating retail spaces all over the South, but a lot of them are malls…which are slowly dying.”

“Because you Gen-Z and Millennial types would rather shop on your phones than change out of your pajama pants, comb your hair, leave your houses, and interact with actual people.”

It was Haisley’s turn to laugh. “Guilty. But right now, your biggest problem is something else entirely. Something you don’t know how to stop.”

George paused. “I’m listening.”

“You’re struggling with the disappearances of those young women at Oakfield Mall, right?”

Surprise crossed his face. “You’ve heard about that, huh? Tell me what you know.”

“Only what’s trickled out: that a handful of young women have gone missing these past few months, but nothing comprehensive or detailed. I’ll bet that’s by design. You’ve largely kept a lid on this situation. Normally, the local press would have screamed these salacious headlines. But they’ve barely reported on the incidents.”

Still, if the disturbing string of missing persons became common knowledge, the shit would hit the fan. Mr. Benedict had to be prepared for that possibility. The best defense was a good offense—or however the saying went.

“Because I’ve done everything in my power to keep the situation contained. For reasons that should be obvious.”

George Benedict was clearly more interested in saving his financial ass than the young women who had vanished without a trace. He’d squelched their stories and buried their search efforts under a thick veneer of silence. How long before the victims faded from public consciousness altogether, leaving those captured without hope?

Haisley understood his decision from a business perspective—but she hated it. How could he live with himself as a man? As a human being? “I see.”

“I told the local press I would pull my significant advertising budget if they didn’t keep their mouths shut. In the rare instances that didn’t work, I threatened to sue. So most of the reporting has been page-six stuff, and my name has never been mentioned.” He scowled. “You disapprove.”

Haisley wasn’t surprised that her face gave her away. “People aren’t stupid. You’re well known in this part of the state, and I’m sure they remember the fanfare when the mall opened last spring. The most recent disappearance happening on Christmas Eve was particularly heartrending. That terrified moms everywhere. Has foot traffic been down since?”

“Yes. But I expected that. Christmas is over.”

“Still, these problems must be making an impact.” And whether she disapproved or not, he’d hired her to do a job. “You need an image rehab that shows you’re concerned about customers’ safety without admitting culpability. We’ve got to get you positive community vibes. That’s where I come in.”

And while she devised spin all day because he paid her to, she’d spend her evenings working with JasperThePrivateDick and her CSI group to hopefully solve this case and stop these abductions. Her penance for doing business with the devil.

She had no idea who Jasper was or if that was even his name, but he seemed smart. He was definitely tenacious. Together, they might be able to blow this case wide open. Then there would be no more victims, and she’d have so much positive press to dish out for her new boss that Mr. Benedict would happily reward her. Maybe they’d even be able to find the women who had been abducted. A win all the way around.

And Jasper made her smile. After her New Year’s Eve debacle with Nash, she desperately needed a distraction, especially since she seemed to be on his radar again.

After the way he’d kissed her that night, she wasn’t foolish enough to think he’d given up. She’d have to devise creative ways to keep distance between them. Otherwise, it would be too easy to give in to her feelings. She’d tried to purge him from her heart…but she still missed him way more than was smart.

She had instigated their split for his own good. Why wouldn’t he just accept that?

Her boss’s jaw tightened. “What are your plans for these positive vibes?”

“I have a few thoughts, but I’ll need more information before I can develop a solid plan.”

“Oakfield Mall is one of my most valued—and problematic—properties. Those incidents you’re aware of? Those five missing women? There were three other thwarted attempts that never reached the press. Unfortunately, those women who got away never saw anyone or noticed anything helpful. All these incidents occurred on the mall’s premises, despite the upgraded tech and security guards I pay through the ass for. Somehow, every measure fails. The cameras blipped for twenty minutes on Christmas Eve, just as Kaylee Wright was abducted. It’s like someone knows the property’s weaknesses and can guess my every move. If I can’t stop this, it’s going to ruin me. Two of the missing girls’ families are threatening to sue.”

A chill skated down Haisley’s spine. Having such sinister crimes happening in her own backyard, to young women just starting their lives… It was terrifying and unthinkable. “I had no idea the situation was so dire. So seemingly…deliberate.”

“Neither did I—at first. Not until the latest victim. But that phone call was a gut punch. It destroyed my wife’s Christmas. I knew I had to take more drastic measures.”

Haisley risked a sidelong glance at her new boss. His expression remained impassive as he gazed out the floor-to-ceiling window. Did this incident bother him beyond the financial?

Maybe she was being too harsh. She hardly knew him, and some people didn’t wear their emotions on their faces.

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